Scocca soars, Bulldogs fall to PC

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior captain Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) paced the match with 13 kills and added a team-best five blocks, but the Bryant University volleyball team couldn't keep crosstown rival Providence College at bay, falling to the Friars, 3-1, on the road Wednesday night.

Lauren Fletcher led the home side with 11 kills and a match-best eight blocks, while the Friars (7-17) got 10 more kills from Lauren Hendel. Cassie Muzzonigro put up a contest-high 18 digs on the night, and Carly Morrison paced the match with 40 assists.

For the Bulldogs (9-16), sophomore Mikayla LaRosa (Marysville, Wash.) collected a side-best 11 digs in three sets of action as the Black and Gold knotted the game at 1-1 with a 25-22 set-two win after falling in an early hole courtesy of a 25-15 topping by the home side in the opening frame. Bryant couldn't pull out another win, though, dropping 25-18 and 25-21 decisions for the 3-1 final margin.

Mariah Burgess (Urbana, Ill.) followed Scocca with five kills, second most for the Black and Gold, while Scocca and LaRosa each served up a pair of aces on the outing. Hendel's four service aces led the contest, and Morrison added three of her own in the PC win.

On the night, the Friars out-blocked their intrastate rivals, 20-13, also posting 10 aces to Bryant's six and winning the kills battle, 51-36.

The Bulldogs return to the court Saturday, when they travel to Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. for a 1 p.m. Northeast Conference matchup against St. Francis (NY). Bryant returns home Sunday to host league foe Central Connecticut at 5 p.m.